Reversible tooth brush



Dec. 13, 1938. A. LQ EFFLER REVERSIBLE TOOTH BRUSH Filed Feb. 15, 1938 INVENTOR. BY M Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to brushes and more particularly to types adapted for brushing the eeth.

Ordinary, essentially flat faced brushes are used for this purpose, quite irrespective of the known fact that the teeth of human beings are disposed in a curved row at the front, while the back teeth are seldom in a straight line.

An object of the invention is to provide a brush shaped in accordance with the profile of a set of natural teeth, the shank or handle disposed at one of the edges of the brush backing to operate equally well on both upper and lower sets by reversing the brush in an obvious manner.

A further feature is in the provision of a double brush adapted to cleanse both the inner and outer sides of the teeth at one operation.

Another purpose is to produce a brush having spaced abrading elements and means whereby the space may be adjusted to suit the user, and thereafter clamped in desired adjustment.

Further advantageous objects will appear as the description progresses.

These objects are attained by the novel construction and combination of few and simple parts, as hereinafter described and illustrated in the annexed drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a double type of brush.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevational View of a modified form of double brush having a space adjusting feature.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a top plan View thereof.

By reference to Figure 1 of the drawing it will be seen that the brush consists of a curved plate backing 15 having set, in its concave under side, a plurality of brush tufts 16 arranged in radial formation.

Extending outwardly from the opposite, convex side of the backing, at one of its edges, centrally of its length is a rigid, bar-like handle ll containing, in its enlarged outer end, an opening l8, facilitating its operation and aifording means by which it may be suspended when not in use.

Figures 2 and 3 show a similar backing 20 having brush tufts 2| and provided with an opening 22 slidable along the rectangular handle bar 23, the bar passing through the backing near one of its edges and terminating in an enlargement having an opening 24.

The opposite end of the bar 23 is rigidly set in another curved backing plate 25 having a plurality of brush tufts 26 set in its adjacent convex side.

Obviously the arrangement of the handle permits the brushes to be reversed as they are applied to the respective upper and lower teeth, while the gap between the faces of the tufts may be varied at will.

Closely similar is the arrangement indicated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, inclusive. The concavoconvex backing 3G is provided with a shank or handle element 31 on its convex side containing a circular opening 32.

The lower jaw or backing plate 33 is formed with a shank 34 also having an opening 35 at its upper end, these shanks being arranged in proximate slidable relation.

Disposed in the opening 32 is a cylindrical stud 36 having an enlarged head terminating in a milled, thumb operable cap 37; the opposite end of the stud 36 is also circular, but reduced in diameter and offset axially to produce an eccentric 38 fitting the opening 35 and terminates in a threaded portion 39.

Engaging the thread is a thumb nut 40 by which the bar elements of the handle may be clamped together after the eccentric has been adjusted.

While the backing plates 36 and 33 may be provided with brush tufts as previously described, they may be used as seats for rubber pads 4 |42 respectively, and extending from these pads are soft elastic abraders 4344.

The manner of use is thought obvious from the foregoing description, as well as the construction, which is quite simple in nature.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patents, is:-

A toothbrush comprising an arcuately curved backing plate having brush elements set in its convex side to extend radially therefrom, a rigid integral shank extending at a right angle from one edge of said plate centrally thereof and having a circular opening in its outer end portion, a second arcuately curved plate of greater length and radius having radial brush elements set in its concave side facing the first named brush elements, a rigid integral shank extending at a right angle from one of the edges of said second backing plate in juxtaposition to the first named shank, said last named shank having a circular opening in its outer end portion of larger diameter than the opening in the first named shank, the mentioned openings having their axes offset from one another, a manually operable spindle having two circular portions of different diameter offset one from another and fitted to the respective openings in said shanks whereby said shanks may be moved relatively, and means for locking said spindle when adjusted.

ALBERT LOEFFLER. 

